Lillymay Hildreth Dawkins

September 25, 2012

Lillymay Hildreth Dawkins, 89, of Midland, Texas, passed away peacefully Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at her home of 62 years.

Lillymay was born March 31, 1923, in the family home in Big Spring, Texas, to Walter and May Hildreth. She grew up in Big Spring, Moore Community, Stanton and Lenorah, moving to Midland in 1942. During WWII she went to work for the phone company, working four hours daily as a telephone operator in the downtown office and then taking the bus to Midland Army Air Field to work as an operator on base. She later worked as a bookkeeper at Penney's and then as bookkeeper and data entry clerk for Midland County Adult Probation office.

Lillymay accepted Jesus as her Savior as a young girl and always lived her life with God's leading in mind. She loved children and taught them in Sunday School for more than 60 years. She was an avid photographer and thanks to her efforts, her family has a tremendous heritage of family pictures going back to when she was just a child herself. Sewing was another activity she enjoyed and excelled in. She liked working on her computer and did extensive genealogy work. And no one could beat her German chocolate cake.

Lillymay married her best friend, Vern Dawkins, in July 1945 in Stanton, Texas. He pre-deceased her in July 1988. She was also pre-deceased by her parents; her sister, Janie Hildreth Morgan Dawkins; and her youngest brother, Jerry Hildreth.

She is survived by her son, Donald Dawkins; and her daughter, Jean Dawkins Page (Doug), both of Midland, Texas. She leaves three grandchildren, Mike Dawkins and children Michael, Micah, Karissa and Hannah of Midland, Texas, Traci Sparks (Terry) and son Ryan of Lubbock, Texas, Sherri Gilbert (Jeff) and sons Dylan and Brandon of Amarillo, Texas. She also leaves six brothers and sisters, Marybelle Odell of Big Spring, Texas, Myrtie Dawkins of Midland, Texas, Walter Hildreth, Jr. (Jean) of Lenorah, Eula Kartes (Eddie) of Grand Prairie, Texas, Libby Gilmore (Ken) of Lubbock, Texas, and Jack Hildreth Of Franklin, Tenn., and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Ellis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com